Meet international female DJ Cherine Haynes
CHERINE HAYNES speaks about her love for spinning, mixing music and days as a female DJ in the UK, Europe and the East.
TF: Where does your interest in DJing stem from?
CH: As a child my father allowed me to handle his vinyl record collection. I recorded, selected tracks and produced my own cassette tape mixes and have been playing with music and mixing since. I have a substantial music collection of more than 3,000 CDs. Old school R&B has to be my ultimate favourite. I love Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind & Fire.
TF: DJing appears to be a male-dominated industry. What challenges did you face?
CH: When I was DJing seriously, I didn't really face any so-called challenges. I was considered more of a novelty among my music peers. I wasn't performing on a terribly large scale, so maybe I went under the radar.
TF: Most notable venues you've performed at?
CH: I've DJed locally in Singapore at House (www.dempseyhouse.com). In Europe I performed regularly at a very popular club in Turin, Italy which attracted more than 1,000 revellers each night. Also, I performed regularly at a club in Trafalgar Square, London.
CH: My work at the Bank and being a mum take precedence over DJing these days. It's difficult to find the time to devote to mixing even if it's only for me. However, I do aspire to find a way to achieve this as I love playing music. If I had the opportunity to DJ full-time in the future, it would certainly be a challenge. You need endurance to keep up with the late night hours, constantly updating your repertoire and to understand what makes a crowd rock.
TF: You were one of the hand-picked few in the FFF Girl DJ Bootcamp in 2010. Could you share your experience?
CH: It was a fun process! I learned the art of mixing tracks based on beats and scratching. During the bootcamp I learnt more about my musical self and was reminded of my "old skool" influences. I love the style of music where you can hear the instruments - the guitars, drums, bass and percussion. I also realised, after the masterclasses, that pure electronic music didn't appeal to me as much as a combination of acoustic resonating instruments.
TF: Favourite local hot spots?
CH: One Rochester (www.onerochester.com) and Seb's Bistro & The Playhouse (www.rochesterhouse.com.sg) is a perfect place to hang out with friends while the kids play.
Babes on decks
Four to the Floor (FFF), The Girl DJ Bootcamp is an all-female annual workshop which educates women about electronic music and DJing. Over a series of four weekends, a total of 10 girls will attend lectures and demonstrations conducted by electronic music luminaries before taking part in a comprehensive practical session. Each girl will spend one-on-one time with a mentor to have hands-on practice with equipment including turntables, CDJs and mixers. www.facebook.com/fffgirldjbootcamp
See the magic happen for yourself at the 2011 FFF Graduation Bash on October 27, 7pm at the Wine Bar (Zouk). Entry is free!
Posted on Oct 2011
